He's always optimistic about the future and he infects people with that "we-can-do-it" spirit.You have to provide value That means really touching the organisation. He anticipates customers' requirements, and leads them into new areas. Now the company has three major divisions; in commercial services and personnel. That's a good example of a business that has been built up with a key man at the helm.Colin MillbanksChief ExecutiveMayne Nickless ExpressTHE HEAD of Fedex, Fred Smith - to whom I reported for four years as its vice-president in Europe - is a visionary. And Ronnie Frost at Hays started several decades ago in the distribution business. The bit that really makes a difference is to innovate: to get people looking outside the box, reinvent a new one, and keep doing that. It's about being able to push out the boundaries of your product proposition - so what might have started as a haulage company moves into logistics then into a managerial capacity.One man transformed an organisation that was already mature: John Allen at Ocean Group has done an admirable job.

Suppliers need to be capable of managing a broader range; customers are keen to outsource more functions.I admire the work of Peter Rose at the US-based company Expeditors. They have grown consistently and produced quite good financial results over a long period.David GarmanChief ExecutiveTransport Development GroupLOGISTICS COMPANIES tend to employ lots of people: one of the characteristics of a good leader is to set high standards then be focused, demanding and tough-minded. In today's environment, a host of seemingly small changes accumulate to become an edge that provides competitive advantage.John AllenChief ExecutiveOcean GroupIN A service industry like logistics, it's necessary for companies to be customer-focused and aware of how their needs are evolving. Many are global and want us to be able to support them wherever they are. Logistics involves large bespoke models which position the resources of the client in the right place at the right time for the customer. David Carter, head of after-sales at Volkswagen, now has parts delivered through the night, so dealers turn the cars around much faster.

At NatWest, Martin Gray and at Lloyds TSB Ron Watford are people who made major changes. There are numerous examples: we carry 1.5million loaves every day, and came up with a new system of moving them to reduce cost.On the user side, there are some enlightened people who are making changes to provide benefits and reduce costs. Neil Crossthwaite, managing director of TNT Logistics, is a good motivator who can spot openings to benefit the customer. His vision was to provide total repair and return services to the high- tech and contract manufacturing industries. Companies can outsource after- sales care to Celestica, confident the chain operates in an "end of runway" system which offers clients speedy turnaround.Alan JonesManaging DirectorTNT ExpressIN LOGISTICS, if you are the fastest and most reliable, you have a good chance of being the most successful. He redefined the supply chain from the purchase of raw materials to the delivery of finished goods: a customer places an order, the product is configured to the customer's specifications, a language manual is developed to match and the product is DHLed with shipping information and customer invoicing complete.David Lusk, vice president of Worldwide Repair Services for Celestica, is behind one of the top "one-stop-shop" operations for repair services. They had a clear vision and financial strength: being broad-based lessened the reliance on their logistics business.David ColesManaging Director, DHL (International) UK LtdI WOULD nominate Ashley Mills, divisional operations and finance director of Eurotherm Controls, who oversaw a very innovative solution across an international supply chain.

Everybody thinks of consultancy firms being leading-edge, but so are companies like Exel Logistics. You've got to have substance behind what you say - operational credentials that demonstrate you can deliver I'd also like to commend John Cole and Ronnie Frost at Hays. Chief executive John Allen comes from a business services perspective: we're talking about a much broader focus, helping customers improve and grow their businesses.This industry has been reticent to market itself properly. You need excellence in operational efficiency, using technology to create advantage.Work by the Ocean global logistics group is something you'd certainly recognise. That requires a broader set of skills, not simply providing resources, such as transport or warehousing, but a more extensive range of supply chain services. I'd also like to nominate Eddie Stobart; what started as a game, people adding up how many Stobart lorries they could see, he has taken and used as a marketing tool, enabling him to have a presence that outbats his actual size.Richard HuntChief ExecutiveExel Logistics Europe (Sectors)and chairman of the Institute of Logistics and TransportTHE WORLD is moving very quickly, with pan-European and now global requirements.